Two Guys Cigar Blog

Quai D’Orsay Imperiales and Ridge Lytton Springs

So, I decided to open a bottle of Ridge Lytton Springs Zin and break out a cigar that has been hyped-up for about a month now; the QdO Imperiales. We’re not talking about aged ones, I’m talking fresh, ROTT, or however you refer to them. I happened to buy I box of these sometime last year and was disappointed with the first one. Let’s see if they are living up to the hype.

First off, the wrappers from this box are some of the darkest I have ever seen appear on a QdO. Not very attractive, with an almost rustic appearance. This particular cigar has been cut for about a week (tested the draw) and, upon lighting, reveals more than an ample amount of smoke. 

The first third displays a tremendous amount of cedar and hazelnut which teeter back and forth. A pleasurable aroma of sweet spices and cedar alike lift into the air. There was not much change going into the second third, but the flavors were more balanced at this point. The thing that stands out the most is the strength. Most of the time you are expecting a mild smoke from QdO, but not with these. The last third revealed more of a dark roasted coffee flavor with a hint of sweetness underlying. I can certainly see why these cigars are getting a lot of press and I’d jump on a box before the word gets out!

Rating - 91/10

2006 Ridge Lytton Springs

Now, I decided to keep the two review separate so that there was no confusion in flavor profiles. If you are looking to pair a cigar and wine, I don’t think you could pick a better combination. I took a gamble thinking that the wine would probably cover the flavor of the cigar, but the two complimented one another well.

I gave the wine an 1.5 hrs to air before pouring and feel that it was more than reasonable. To me, it was very open and its characteristics were showing off early. I have only had one other bottle of this and can say that this is something to either enjoy now or put in the cellar for 10+ years. Hell, that’s why you buy two!

The nose is very pretty. Aromas of grape jam, black currant, and grape Big League Chew are dominant. After a few hours you can sense a little bit of red fruit mixing in. Ok, time to sip it. There are a lot of tannins, but don’t get that confused with being dry. It is very smooth and beautiful in color. There may be a hint of raspberry on the sides of the mouth. This is not a heavy wine as it is thin in viscosity. Being as thin as it is, it gives off a great violet color that I can’t stop staring at as I swirl it to give it some air. This is definitely a winner! Go grab a bottle or two!

Rating 91 (MSRP ~$30)